Angel Aurelio Soto, a 17-year-old from Artesia, California, was tragically shot and killed on July 16, 2016. The incident occurred in the 18000 block of Alburtis Avenue during a party attended by approximately 30 people. Soto, who had returned to Los Angeles for the weekend to visit friends and his baby daughter, was at the party when four uninvited individuals crashed the event. A fight broke out, and one of the intruders pulled out a gun, firing four shots.
Soto was struck in the chest and pronounced dead at the scene. Two other individuals, brothers who lived at the home and were celebrating a graduation, were also injured but survived.
The investigation led to the arrest of Robert Rolando Garcia, a 20-year-old from Long Beach, who was charged with murder and two counts of attempted murder. Garcia, who was a friend of Soto, allegedly got into an argument over balloons filled with nitrous oxide, which people inhale for a high. The argument escalated into a physical altercation, during which Garcia pulled out a gun and began shooting. Soto was caught in the crossfire and died as a result. Garcia was arrested on October 20, 2016, and pleaded not guilty to the charges. He was held in lieu of $6 million bail, with his next court hearing set for December 7, 2016.
Soto's death left his family devastated. They had moved to Moreno Valley to escape the violence in Los Angeles, only for Soto to fall victim to it during a visit. His family described him as a young man who had faced many challenges, including the loss of vision in one eye and the illnesses of his father and older brother. Despite his struggles, Soto was known for his sense of humor and his ability to make others laugh. His family started an online fundraiser to help cover his burial expenses, and they continue to seek justice for his untimely death.
